Locating device for hand stamps or the like



June 1946- J. G. D. MANWARING LOCATING DEVICE FOR HAND STAMPS OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 2, 1944 ja -[a4 .0. Mnwarziz Wyn m? Patented June 25, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT orn'ce LOCATING DEVICE FOR I THE 6 Claims. 4 1

This invention relates to locating devices for hand stamps or similar manually manipulated marking devices such as punches, perforators or stencils.

It frequently occurs in the use of hand stamps or similar devices of the types indicated above that a considerable number of articles or sheets are to be stamped or otherwise marked in similar locations, and where the location of the marking is critical as to its position it is desirable to pro- I vide'guiding means for the purpose of enabling the operator to secure proper marking action.

The present invention has as its general object the provision of locating devices which, by being brought into coincidence with predetermined points of the object to be marked, will serve to locate the marking device for operation.

The foregoing general object as well as subjects relating to details of construction will be apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is an elevation of a hand stamp with a preferred arrangement of locating devices attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;

Figur 3 is a perspective view of one of the 10- cating devices adapted to be secured to a hand stamp;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken through the mounting of a, needle or finger constituting the main element of the locating means;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative type of locating device adapted to be folded out of the way when not in use; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of the same.

A hand stamp 2 is illustrated as provided with a pair of locating devices generally indicated at 4. Each of these, as indicated in Figure 3, comprise a carrier 8 provided with extensions 8 which may embrace the ends of the stamp 2, being secured thereto by means of prongs indicated at I0. Deflected portions of the sheet metal of the carrler 6, which are indicated at I2 and I4, serve to carry the inner end of a finger or needle I6, an upset head 20 being provided to prevent the needle from dropping therefrom. The sank of the portion I8 of the needle is made square as indicated at 22, or is otherwise flattened, opposite the defiected portion II of the carrier I8 which acts as a spring thereon to maintain the needle in one or more predetermined angular positions, as, for example, extending laterally from the stamp or alternatively transversely thereof it it is turned through 90 in either direction from the position HAND STAMPS OR LIKE Joshua G. D. Manwaring, Great Neck, N. Y.

Application November 2, 1944, Serial No. 561,575

2 illustrated. The finger or needl I6 which may take various forms, is provided with a downwardly projecting sharpened end 24 arranged to project below the plane of the characters on the stamp.

If a duplicate arrangement of these fingers is provided as illustrated, it will be evident that by aligning them with predetermined points on the article or sheet to be marked, the stamp will be located in a predetermined position with respect to such points. Such points may, for example, be printed on the sheet to be stamped or may be defined by lines or characters or the like, which may be incidental to information contained thereon. In any event, the stamp when brought adjacent to the sheet will thus be properly positioned for a final downward movement to efiect marking action, the fingers yielding as springs to permit such marking movement. Stencils or the like may, of course, be similarly aligned on the object to be marked, followed by the application of marking by paint or ink or the like. If the lateral extension of the fingers as shown would result in their points being off the object 25 to be marked, they may be moved to an alternative position in which they will be yieldingly held by spring action so that they may be properly aligned with predetermined points.

In the case of the modification illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, each of the locating devices comprises a support 30 which mounts, in the fashion previously described, a locating arm or needle 32. This has, however, in distinction from that previously described, a bent shank at 34 which, as illustrated in Figure 6, makes it possible to turn the arm to a position in which it may lie flatwise along the stamp when not in use so as to be out of the way when, as is usual, the stamp is carried upon a stand or placed ina receptacle.

It will be clear that variations in details of the invention may be made without departing therefrom.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a hand operated device such as a hand stamp or the like, locating means at each end of the device, each comprising a support carried by said device, a finger carried by each support and extending laterally therefrom, said finger having a downwardly projecting portion at its outer end clear of the support and device, and means for holding said finger in predetermined relation with said device.

2. In combination with a hand operated device such as a hand stamp or the like, locating means comprising supporting means carried by said device, a plurality of shiftable spring fingers carried by said supporting means and extending laterally from each end of said device, and means for holding said fingers in predetermined relation with said device.

3. In combination with a hand operated device such as a hand stamp or the like, locating means at each end of the device, each comprising a support carried by said device, a finger carried by each support and extending laterally therefrom and arranged to be shifted to different locating positions with relation to the device, and means for yieldingly holding said finger in alternative predetermined relations with said device.

4. In combination with a hand operated device such as a hand stamp or the like, locating means at each end of the device each comprising a support carried by said device, an L-shaped finger carried by each support and extending laterally therefrom, said finger being arranged to be folded along the side and end of the device, and means for holding said finger in predetermined relation with said device.

5. Locating means adapted to be attached to the end of a hand stamp, comprising a U-shaped frame adapted to embrace the end of a stamp, a finger having an extension pivoted to said frame and extending laterally therefrom, and means for yieldingly holding the pivot in alternate predetermined positions.

'6. Locating means adapted to be attached to the end of a hand stamp, comprising a U-shaped j' frame adapted to embrace the end of a stamp,

an L-shaped finger having an extension pivoted to said frame and extending laterally therefrom, and means for yieldingly holding the pivot in alternate predetermined positions, one portion of said finger being arranged to be folded to lie along the web of the frame while the other portion will lie along'a flange of the frame.

' JOSHUA G. D. MANWARING. 

